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Some time ago I had a peculiar vision which left me wondering about its meaning and implications.

In this vision I found myself in a deep river where there was no need for me to swim or to keep myself above water on my own. Instead, I was relaxing on my back, looking at Jesus above me who held me close while moving Himself forward peacefully. I could see His face all the time, however, I had no clue where we were heading.

Time and again I looked to the left or to the right, moving my arms in the water at least since apart from these short side glances and moves there was nothing to do. I recall I was as joyful as can be and full of confidence. This security being kept by the Lord alone had driven away all former fears and worries. After a certain time spent in silence I asked Jesus whether I was allowed to turn and check what was beneath us. I was curious, to be honest, and even a bit bored meanwhile. Maybe, like Adam and Eve whom God had given everything they needed. But perhaps… not everything they wanted…? 🤔

Although Jesus agreed, He told me not to be frightened. A bit concerned I turned and looked down, at first baffled and then scared. What I saw made no sense to me at all. The water in which we were swimming was only on top of this scenery. Below us there was a deep, dry and narrow, rocky valley. At the bottom I detected more or less hidden perils like traps or weapons waiting for anyone daring to venture into this area. Immediately I was reminded of a computer game I played about 33 years ago when I was bored with my studies at university. The name of the game was “Prince of Persia”. Wow, that fits, I thought (cf. Dan 10:13). In that game you had to overcome many obstacles, like running from an armed enemy who wanted to kill you or like jumping over deep chasms. If you failed and fell down, swords came your way and killed you so that you lost your life.

“Lord, I think I got the message now. By beholding You we are being transformed into the same image and we have also entered Your rest. Then You can do Your works in us and through us without us even realizing what has happened.”

In Christ’s Spirit alone, that is, in this river above all principalities and powers which belong to “the prince of the power of the air” (cf. Eph 2:2) who waits to eagerly extinguish our spiritual life, only IN Him alone all things are ours. We can rest and enjoy the fruit of His Spirit in an ever-increasing way and we can rejoice even in our sufferings. But without Him, we can do nothing spiritual. We are neither able to remove our difficult circumstances nor can we fight the darkness on our own. If God does not lead us into a certain direction, we can but stand still and wait until the Lord has cleared the way again.

The following is an excerpt from T. Austin-Sparks’ article “On Knowing the Lord” where he deals with how to discern God’s leading.

“The greatest of the problems of the Christian life is

The Problem Of Guidance.

“How much has been said and written upon this subject! The last word for so many is, “Pray about it, commit it to God, do the thing that seems right, and trust God to see that it turns out all right.” This to us seems weak and inadequate. We make no claim to ability to lay down the comprehensive and conclusive basis of guidance, but we are strongly of the conviction that it is one thing to get direction for the events, incidents, and contingencies of life, and quite another thing to have an abiding, personal, inward knowledge of the Lord. It is one thing to call upon a friend in emergency or at special times to get advice as to a course to be taken; it is another thing to live with that friend so that there is a sense of his mind on things as a general matter.

“We want instructions and commands, the Lord wants us to have a “mind.” “Let this mind be in you,” “We have the mind of Christ.” Christ has a consciousness, and by the Holy Spirit He would give and develop in us that consciousness. The inspired statement is that “the anointing teacheth you concerning all things.” We are not servants, we are sons. Commands – as such – are for servants, a mind is for sons.” (1)

I believe having the mind of Christ is a great goal of which I know I am still at the beginning. There are times when I know the direction He wants me to take. And although it makes no sense to me I go. But there are also times when I struggle to find out what His mind is about. And then I pray… and pray over the same issue again and again. If I do not sense any particular guidance from God, I finally have to go or to let it all go.

May the Lord bestow His unsearchable riches on us so that we know Him and what He wills better and better. Amen.

(1) https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/000415.html

In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks’ wishes that what was freely received should be freely given and not sold for profit, and that his messages be reproduced word for word, we ask if you choose to share these messages with others, to please respect his wishes and offer them freely – free of any changes, free of any charge (except necessary distribution costs) and with this statement included.

All images by Susanne Schuberth 2024